Within the framework of the United Nations Day of Vesak 2025, Ba Den Mountain in Tay Ninh welcomed thousands of delegates from more than 80 countries to attend a series of solemn ceremonies, making this place a pilgrimage destination for Buddhists worldwide. Welcoming the Vesak delegation were Mr. Nguyen Hong Thanh - Acting Chairman of the Provincial People's Committee; leaders of the Ba Den Mountain Tourist Area Management Board, SunWorld Ba Den Mountain, along with a large number of Buddhists and tourists from inside and outside the province.
The solemn ceremony of carrying the relics of Buddha Shakyamuni to Ba Den Mountain was held. Photo: Giang Phuong
Procession of Buddha Shakyamuni's relics to Ba Den Mountain
On the afternoon of May 8, the Vesak 2025 delegation departed from the Vietnam Buddhist Academy ( Ho Chi Minh City) to Ba Den Mountain to perform the Buddha's relic procession and attend a series of solemn ceremonies within the framework of the United Nations Vesak Festival - Vesak 2025. The delegation included more than 1,200 international delegates from more than 80 countries such as India, Bhutan, China, France, Germany, Nepal, Japan, Sri Lanka, England, America, Thailand... along with more than 800 domestic delegates from the Vietnam Buddhist Sangha and leaders of provinces, cities, ministries and branches.
From early afternoon, the procession of Buddha's relics and important rituals in the 2025 Vesak Festival at Ba Den Mountain were performed by senior monks of the Indian Buddhist Sangha, the Vietnam Buddhist Sangha, international Buddhist delegations, along with representatives of Tay Ninh provincial government and leaders of Ba Den Mountain National Tourist Area.
Many tourists and people from all provinces and cities came to Ba Den mountain to visit and attend the ceremony.
The Buddha's relics are the national treasure of India, and were approved by the Government of the Republic of India to be brought to Vietnam with important security and protocol principles through the diplomatic channel at the Government level. At the highest mountain in the South, the Buddha's relics were enshrined at the Buddhist Exhibition Center from May 8 to 13 for Buddhists and the public to worship and pay homage.
Representative of the National Organizing Committee of the United Nations Vesak 2025 in Vietnam speaking at the Buddha's relic procession ceremony.
On behalf of the People's Committee of Tay Ninh province and the people of Tay Ninh, Acting Chairman of the People's Committee Nguyen Hong Thanh expressed: "Tay Ninh province is very honored to be the place to welcome the Buddha's relics - the national treasure of India at the Ba Den Mountain National Tourist Area. This is a great pride for the people of Tay Ninh province when it is chosen as the place to record the special mark of the Vesak Festival and honor the heritage of global Buddhism".
Tay Ninh is a land with a long-standing cultural tradition, in which Ba Den Mountain is the leading spiritual destination in the South and an important Buddhist center for the religious life of the people here. According to the acting Chairman of the Provincial People's Committee, the enshrinement of Buddha's relics from India - a treasure of all mankind in the 2025 Vesak Festival not only creates an opportunity for the people of Tay Ninh province to receive blessings from the cradle of world Buddhism, but also for Tay Ninh province. "This is a very important cultural diplomatic event of great significance, contributing to spreading the message of solidarity between nations" - Mr. Nguyen Hong Thanh emphasized.
He hopes that Tay Ninh province will continue to welcome Buddhist delegations from India in particular and the world in general to return to increase friendship and explore the natural beauty and culture of the people here.
In preparation for the reception of the Vesak delegation in Tay Ninh, previously, the acting Chairman of the Provincial People's Committee Nguyen Hong Thanh directed departments and branches to coordinate with the Provincial Police force to organize traffic diversion on some roads leading to the foot of Ba Den Mountain, so that tourists and people can conveniently visit, worship and pay their respects.
Mr. Nguyen Hong Thanh - Acting Chairman of Tay Ninh Provincial People's Committee.
“On behalf of the people of Tay Ninh, I would like to express my deep gratitude to the Organizing Committee of the 2025 Vesak Festival, the Venerables, the diplomatic delegations, especially the Buddhist delegation and the Consulate General of India for trusting and choosing Ba Den Mountain, Tay Ninh as the place to enshrine the Buddha's relics. This is a great honor for the people of Tay Ninh in particular and the people of Southern Vietnam in general. We believe that, after today's event, thousands of Vietnamese Buddhists and tourists will come to Ba Den Mountain every day to admire the treasure of world Buddhism.”
The relics of Buddha Shakyamuni are the national treasure of India and were approved by the Indian government to be invited to Vietnam with important security and protocol principles through Government-level diplomatic channels.
Bodhi Garden is a unique garden never seen before in Vietnam.
After the ceremony to enshrine the Buddha's relics, in the afternoon of the same day, the ceremony to plant 108 Bodhi trees was held at the Bodhi Garden World on the top of Ba Den Mountain. The ceremony was performed by eminent monks and leaders of Buddhist delegations from 80 countries around the world. This is a special Bodhi garden never seen before in Vietnam, each tree is numbered and associated with the name of a country participating in the 2025 Vesak Festival in Vietnam.
In Buddhist culture, the Bodhi tree is the sacred Pipphala tree of India. Under the shade of that tree, on the full moon night of Vesakha in the Uruvela forest on the banks of the Nilian River, the Buddha attained enlightenment. Through the ups and downs of history, the Bodhi tree still firmly exists and develops right behind the 51m high Dai Giac tower at Bodh Gaya, built in the 1st century AD.
At Bodhi Garden World, 108 Bodhi trees were solemnly planted from Bodh Gaya, as messengers of peace, wisdom and awareness, connecting nations; a sacred mark of the Vesak Festival and a precious heritage entrusted to future generations.
After the Bodhi tree planting ceremony, more than 2,000 Vesak delegates attended the candle lighting ceremony to pray for world peace at Tay Bo Da Son Square, where eminent monks and religious dignitaries from all over the world lit candles symbolizing the light of wisdom and compassion and prayed for a peaceful and happy world. This is not only a religious ceremony but also a cultural event with a strong humanitarian character, expressing the desire for peace of the Vietnamese people and Buddhists around the world.
Ms. Nguyen Lam Nhi Thuy - Deputy General Director of Sun Group in the Southern region said: "Your noble presence at the important events of the Vesak 2025 Festival on Ba Den Mountain is a great honor for the Ba Den Mountain National Tourist Area. The festival is not only a sacred festival for Buddhists around the world, but also an opportunity to introduce to international friends the land of Tay Ninh - home to the sacred Ba Den Mountain, a typical spiritual pilgrimage site of the Vietnamese people".
Held from May 6 to 8, 2025, the United Nations Day of Vesak 2025 is one of the important international cultural events to honor humanistic values and global peace. With a series of meaningful cultural and spiritual events, the world's largest Buddha's Birthday held in Vietnam has become a special event to help spread the beauty and love of peace of the Vietnamese people to the whole world.
Tam Giang
Source: https://baotayninh.vn/lan-toa-thong-diep-ve-tinh-doan-ket-giua-cac-quoc-gia-a189830.html
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